Goat train!

Hello from Islay where we are having a fantastic (and very productive) time! I am so pleased with the photographs that I (rather than Tom) shot this morning that I just had to share a couple with you. As you know, I’ve got a bit of a thing about wild goats (so much so that I designed a pattern in their homage) – but have so far found these elusive creatures a wee bit tricky to photograph. Happily The Oa (where we are currently staying) abounds with wild goats, so I spent this morning goat-stalking with Tom’s camera, and was lucky enough to get a few really good shots, including one of this magnificent creature . . .

. . . together with his buddies, ascending the cliffside, in an orderly GOAT TRAIN!

Related

Post navigation

42 replies to Goat train!

Hi Kate and Tom,
Thanks for letting us climb aboard the goat train and share in the beauty of their travels beside the sea and land. Reminds me of how one can travel difficult terrain in life when fear is set aside and we use the gifts we carry within us. Looking forward to your next shared wonders.

Beautiful photog’s! Thank you. Stunning creatures. Their single line procession through the rocks/cliffs is amazing.

Off topic of your incredible photographs – Do you know the Coast Salish of the N.A. Pacific NW used to harvest mountain goat hair as well keep a special (now extinct – perhaps Japanese origins) breed of curly haired white dogs and use their fibre in their amazing, woven blankets? The fibre was treated with diatomaceous earth, so pests could not live in it. Thick yarn was spun using huge spindle whorls. The woven blankets were one of their most valuable possessions. Both functional and ceremonial. With European settlement the Coast Salish population was decimated, the weaving tradition was replaced with knitting with sheep’s wool (Scottish Settlers/Missionaries taught knitting). Old sewing machine treadles were adapted to produce Indian Head Spinners used to spin thick yarn. This evolved into the Cowichan knitting tradition.
Working with Wool: A Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan Sweater by Sylvia Olsen is an excellent book.

Wow, these are dramatic shots! Do you, by any chance, know what sort of rock these adventurous goats are climbing? I would guess it is metamorphic, but that is as far as I would go. I agree with Celeste above — I am inspired to finish my Goat Mitts as well — and if it were a bit cooler here in Port Townsend, WA, I would put my Goat Hat on! Can’t wait to see the results of this latest expedition of yours.

Hi Kate,
I visited Islay with my husband in 2009.
We stayed at a modern longhouse “Samchair” not far from Oa and we saw the goats too. we were told that they are quite partial to seaweed
They are amazing but I am sure that you found out that it is important to avoid getting down wind of them.
Your photographs are great!
I hope that you found time to visit the rest of the island. It is not the easiest place to get to but is well worth the effort.

Now not only do I want prints of Tom’s photos, I would love a print of that goat train! My favorite hikes here in Colorado are the ones where there are mountain goats. While the ones you photographed look similar, those here in the Rocky Mountains are all white. It makes me so happy to pick little tufts of shed wool from bushes along our route.

The photos are fabulous now you just need to catch one, shear it and make a hap😀 I’ve loved the photos on Instagram and the place where you are staying looks amazing. Thank you for sharing both you and Tom are very generous. DX

Hi Kate. I hope you enjoy your time on Islay, Port Charlotte is my homeland although I have been in Ayrshire for 58 years, but go home as often as I can. The pictures are fabulous and the Oa has had them there for years. Enjoy the island and looking forward to your next collection soon. Hugs Rita xxxx

Wow, what great luck to see and photograph these goats! I am a huge goat fan, have had them for years, they have so much personality and make great hiking companions. Now I’m inspired to finally finish my Goat Mitts which are 85 percent done and languishing. Love your pictures!